FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ RESERVATIONS ~ 02 November 2025

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

RESERVATIONS

Recently, someone stopped by my office, handed me two sheets of paper, and said something to the effect of, "You're always sharing something with people; here's something for you." Then he was gone. Like so many encounters we have along life's way, this one was brief. But it left a lasting impression...and brightened my whole day. The article is definitely a "keeper". Originally written by Jonathan Lee for the Washington Post, it is entitled "Reservations of an Airline Agent". I've abbreviated it due to limited space, but the point is unchanged. Enjoy!

"I work in the central reservation office of an airline company. After more than 130,000 conversations -- all ending with "Have a nice day and thanks for calling" -- I think it's fair to say I'm a survivor.

"I've made it through all the calls from adults who don't know the difference between a.m. and p.m., from mothers of military recruits who didn't trust their little soldiers to get it right, from the woman who wanted advice on how to handle her teenage daughter, from the man who wanted to ride inside the kennel with his dog so he wouldn't have to pay for a seat, from the woman who wanted to know why she had to change clothes on our flight between Chicago and Washington (she was told she'd have to make a change between the two cities) and from the man who asked if I'd like to discuss the existential humanism that emanates from the soul of Habeeb.

"My battles have included everything from a man not knowing how to spell the name of the town he was from, to another not recognizing "Iowa" as being a state, to another who thought he had to apply for a foreign passport to fly to West Virginia.

"I talked to a woman in Denver who had never heard of Cincinnati, a man in Minneapolis who didn't know there was more than one city in the South ("wherever the South is"), and a man in Dallas who tried to pay for his ticket by sticking quarters in the pay phone he was calling from.

"A woman wanted to fly to Hippopotamus, NY. After assuring her there was no such city, she became irate and said it was a big city with a big airport. I asked if Hippopotamus was near Albany or Syracuse. It wasn't. Then I asked if it was near Buffalo. 'Buffalo!' she said, "I knew it was a big animal".

"Then a man tried to catch our flight to Maconga. I told him I'd never heard of Maconga and we certainly didn't fly to it. But he insisted we did and to prove it he showed me his ticket: Macon, GA. "Half (of the people) will not have thought about when they're returning. A third won't know where they are going; 10 percent won't care where they're going. A few won't care if they get back. "You just have to shake your head in amazement! But it reminds me of a time when Jesus talked with his apostles about a trip he was taking. As I recall, there was a lot of confusion about that trip as well.

"'I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.' Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?' (John 14:2b-5)

"With all the patience of an airline ticket agent, Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'." (John 14:6) "What a glorious trip lies ahead. I hope you've made your reservations!"

Amen, and blessings on your journey.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

[Kathy in Alaska]

FALL BACK TONIGHT!!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[decal]

We’re discussing DST/no DST on another thread here - how do you feel?

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Have you had a little downtime today. You needed it after the busy week you had.
Pretty up there this evening but the day started out kinda ugly. The snow on the mountains looks so pretty in the sunshine. Nice colors to the west as the sun sets and the colors are starting to show on the snow. Peach at the moment.

Have the geese been around again today?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ RESERVATIONS and Liberty

Lt. Charles F. Suver, CHC, USN, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division
"Mass at Iwo Jima"

Please stop in and say a prayer of protection for the military.
Prayers from all denominations are needed.



Sunday Liberty starts after the Guest Military Chaplain's Service!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier, Reservist, National Guardsman, or Merchant Marine
feel alone or forgotten.

O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is loving kindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.

Psalm 130:7 & 8

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Got your clocks turned back?

[SkyDancer]

~ Evening All! ~

~

~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, decal, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

I despise DST!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Shavua Tov.
Wishing all our Jewish troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
a peaceful and prosperous week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers for our troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
for a safe and peaceful week ahead.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Extra prayers for Israel...

He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our G-d from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.

May HASHEM cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.

May He lead our enemies under their sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is Hashem, your G-d, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.

G-d bless and keep your children safe, Alouette.

[radu]

Hey there, Kathy.

Haven’t yet but I’ll turn them back at 2:00 tonight.

[luvie]

Providence~Lord Feed Your Children

Glad~Before the Throne Of God Above

Cathedrals~Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Glad~Be Ye Glad

Gaither Homecoming~Heaven's Joy Awaits

Ray Walker~Master The Tempest Is Raging

Vocal Majority~Deep River

Have a blessed Sunday
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Nary a goose in sight! Hoping they all left this morning. I’m thinking the mass of “feathered” taking flight early were the geese.

Did the swans leave?

Snow on the mountains and sunshine are a sight to behold.

[lightman]

Keep the Lord’s Day in the Lord’s way.

A blessed Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost to all!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Janey, and Shavua Tov and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Hope you are having nice weekend weather. Any parachutists?

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless our military men and women who have given their all.

Thanks, unique.

[radu]

Yay for no geese! You don't need them around.

The swans are STILL at Lake Hood. Got a scap of them relaxing and preening this morning and got one a few minutes ago of them grabbing a bite of supper.

[radu]

Same here!!!